Virginia 4-H Camping Volunteer Training Modules

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Virginia 4-H CampingVolunteer Training Modules
MODULE 4 4-H CAMP VOLUNTEER ROLES,
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND POSITION DESCRIPTIONS
Developed by Barry A. Garst, Ph.D., Assistant
Professor and Extension Specialist 4-H Youth
Development, March 2006
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How to Use this Information

• If you are a 4-H adult volunteer leader
• 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information
  contained in this presentation.
• 2. Consider the Discussion Questions listed on
  the last page.
• 3. Contact your local 4-H Extension Agent (or
  other person responsible for
• 4-H camping in your county/city) to review
  this information.
• If you are a VCE faculty or staff member
  responsible for 4-H camping in your unit
• 1. Review the 4-H camp-related information
  contained in this presentation.
• 2. Use this presentation to support your 4-H camp
  teen/adult volunteer
• leader training.
• 3. Use the Discussion Questions listed on the
  last page as a resource in
• reviewing this information with your 4-H
  camp volunteers.

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Overview

• 4-H camp staff roles
• 4-H camp staff position descriptions
• 4-H camp staff expectations

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4-H Camp Staff Roles

• There are four (4) major staff roles at 4-H camp,
  including
• 4-H Camp- Counselors in Training (C.I.T.)
• 4-H Camp- Teen Counselors
• 4-H Camp- Adult Volunteers
• 4-H Camp- Summer Camp Program Staff

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4-H Camp Staff Age Policy

• 4-H Camp- Counselors in Training (C.I.T.)
• Must be at least 13 years old by January 1 of
  current 4-H year
• 4-H Camp- Teen Counselors
• Must be at least 14 years of age by January 1 of
  current 4-H year
• 4-H Camp- Adult Volunteers
• Must be at least 19 years old by January 1 of
  current 4-H year
• 4-H Camp- Summer Camp Program Staff
• Summer program camp staff are typically 18-24
  years old. (There is no state 4-H policy
  regarding the ages of summer camp program staff.)
  

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Importance of a 4-H Camp Volunteer Position
Description

• All 4-H camp paid and volunteer staff must be
  provided with a written position description
  before they begin work at 4-H camp.
• Volunteers must read and sign their position
  descriptions.
• Your 4-H Extension Agent (or other adult
  responsible for 4-H camp in your county/city)
  will provide you with a job description that
  outlines your major responsibilities.
• If you have not yet received a job description,
  please contact your local Cooperative Extension
  office.

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Cooperation Between 4-H Camp Volunteer and Paid
Staff

• Junior 4-H camp is only possible through the
  combined efforts of paid and volunteer staff.
  Each county/city that camps at a 4-H Center
  recruits teen and adult volunteers to assist with
  camp.
• In addition, each 4-H Center provides 10-20 paid
  summer camp program staff members to assist with
  camp.
• 4-H camp is successful when paid and volunteer
  staff work cooperatively in the best interest of
  youth campers.

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4-H Camp Volunteer Staff General Responsibilities

• 4-H camp volunteer staff are responsible for the
  following
• Work for 5 days (or less)
• Supervise youth during daytime and nighttime
  hours (depending on the 4-H Center, volunteers
  may sleep in the same cabin/lodge at the campers
  in order to provide supervision)
• Provide a caring environment for youth/address
  youths needs
• Assist with morning and afternoon camp classes
• Assist with afternoon and evening camp programs
• Assist the 4-H Extension Agent (or other adult
  responsible for the county/city 4-H camping
  program) in all aspects of camp as needed
• Work cooperatively with the 4-H Center Program
  Director and summer 4-H camp staff members.

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4-H Camp Volunteer Staff General Responsibilities

• For additional information regarding your job as
  a 4-H camp volunteer, please refer to your
  position description.

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4-H Camp Paid Staff General Responsibilities

• 4-H summer camp staff are responsible for the
  following
• Work for approximately 10 weeks of camp
• Design 4-H camp curriculum and teach 3-5 camp
  classes daily
• Plan, implement, and evaluate day and evening
  camp programs
• Maintain all program equipment and supplies
• Work cooperatively with the 4-H Extension Agent
  (or other adult responsible for the county/city
  4-H camping program) and 4-H camp volunteer staff
  (CITs, teen counselors, and adult volunteers)

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4-H CampCounselors-in-Training (C.I.T.)

• Philosophy of the CIT Program
• For youth to develop and improve their skills, as
  well as utilize their abilities to work with
  others in a camp setting to learn responsibility
  and the importance of following through on
  commitments and assignments and, to learn 4-H
  camp procedures and program skills.

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4-H CampCounselors-in-Training (C.I.T.)

• The C.I.T. program is designed to teach
  potentially new teen counselors how to work with
  younger children, and to have them return as
  counselors in the coming years. C.I.T.s learn
  the purpose of 4-H camping and how it relates to
  the total overall 4-H program.
• The C.I.T. program provides opportunities for
  youth to grow and develop as well as learn
  leadership skills as they serve in the camping
  program.

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4-H CampCounselors-in-Training (C.I.T.)

• Youth serving as 4-H camp Counselors-in-Training
  (C.I.T.) are in a learning role under the
  supervision, guidance, direction, and/or
  leadership of an experienced camp counselor to
  become a future 4-H camp counselor. The emphasis
  is on learning, and
• C.I.T.s may not have sole supervision of campers
  at any time.

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4-H CampTeen Counselors

• Philosophy of the Teen Counselor Program
• The Virginia 4-H program recognizes that
  teenagers have the greatest opportunity to
  influence younger children. Children look up to
  teens. In essence, younger children want to be
  teens more than they want to be adults. Thus,
  teen counselors have a great opportunity to make
  a lasting impression on campers.
• Since teen counselors are closer to the age of
  campers, teen counselors have the advantage of
  being more in tune with the likes, dislikes, and
  concerns of the campers.

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4-H CampTeen Counselors

• 4-H Camp Teen Counselors supervise children in
  the camp setting, serving in place of the parent
  and assuming responsibility for the well-being of
  the campers in their care at all times. Their
  primary role is to appropriately supervise 4-H
  campers.
• 4-H Camp Teen Counselors must be a friend, guide,
  teacher, and companion to those children under
  his/her supervision. Positive role modeling is a
  must for every 4-H Camp Teen Counselor.

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4-H CampTeen Counselors

• All 4-H Camp Teen Counselors serve under the
  supervision, guidance, direction, and/or
  leadership of the Extension staff (paid or
  volunteer) in charge of the 4-H camping event.

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4-H Camp Adult Volunteers

• Philosophy of 4-H Camp Adult Volunteers
• Adult volunteers are important in camp as they
  provide the necessary maturity and experiences of
  life that can guide young children in the 4-H
  camping community. Most important, adult
  volunteers are the caring adults that are
  necessary in order to provide positive youth
  development.

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4-H Camp Adult Volunteers

• Adult volunteers are staff who have agreed to
  fill defined roles in planning, implementing,
  and/or evaluating the units 4-H camping
  event(s), under the supervision, guidance,
  direction, and/or leadership of the Extension
  staff (paid or volunteer) in charge of the 4-H
  camping event.
• Adult volunteers also serve in place of the
  parent and assume responsibility for the
  well-being of the youth in their care.

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4-H Camp Adult Volunteers

• Through active participation in 4-H camp
  activities, adult volunteers are role models for
  teen counselors. Adult volunteers assist the
  salaried Extension staff in supervising and
  guiding the 4-H teen camp counselors during the
  camp experience.
• While most 4-H camps depend on trained 4-H teen
  counselors as room supervisors, adult volunteers
  also play an important role in cabin/lodge
  supervision.
• Adult volunteer typically conduct daily
  cabin/lodge checks and other specific duties each
  day of camp.

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For More Information

• This presentation has provided you with an
  overview of your responsibilities as a 4-H camp
  volunteer.
• Please contact your local Cooperative Extension
  Office to learn more about the specific
  expectations for your position as a 4-H camp
  volunteer.
• The State 4-H Office extends a sincere thank
  you to all of volunteers that make 4-H camp
  possible!

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Discussion Questions

• Can you think of a 4-H camp situation in which
  volunteer and paid staff teamwork was critical?
• With regards to camper supervision, how are a
  teen counselors and an adult volunteers
  responsibilities similar? How are they
  different?
• Which 4-H camp volunteer responsibility will be
  the most challenging for you?
• What do you think is the most important thing
  that should be remembered from this module?

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References

• Garst, B.A. (2005). Virginia 4-H Camping
  Handbook. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
  Publication 388-562.